A famous story in woodworking history involves a mid-1700s plane made by Cesar Chelor, a slave owned by master planemaker Francis Nicholson in Massachusetts. Upon his death in 1753, Nicholson willed his tools—including the ability to make such planes—to Chelor, who became a celebrated craftsman in his own right.
While many are simple side-beading planes (often listed in antique shops), others are "odd ducks," such as the double beading plane, designed with two cutters to work in either direction, minimizing tear-out.
It is designed to hide seams, such as where a drawer bottom meets the front, or to define shiplapped backboards. If you'd like, I can provide more details on: beading plane
to make those delicate curls (it's called "sticking a bead")
high-quality vintage or new ones (like the ones from Philly Planes) A famous story in woodworking history involves a
In the colonial era, beading planes were among the most common types of moulding planes, often used in simpler homes where more elaborate moldings were not affordable.
The beading plane, a specialized tool in traditional woodworking, has a rich history centered on adding subtle decorative beauty to furniture and homes. Primarily, it cuts a small, rounded "bead" (usually 1/4" to 3/8") along the edge of wood, acting as a functional way to protect fragile corners from breaking. The Story of the Beading Plane It is designed to hide seams, such as
simple version called a "scratch stock."